Stevenson Ridge is a 87-acre historical property in rural Spotsylvania. Nine antique cottages are available for overnight stays and optional breakfast. Weddings, corporate events, reunions, and other special events are available at the Riddick House and the Lodge. Visit www.stevensonridge.com for more information. This blog will keep you up to date on happenings at the Ridge, event ideas, and more! The blog is maintained by Managing Partner Jennifer Hawkins Mackowski—"Jenny"

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

The fountain in our pond has been on the fritz for most of
the spring. We think the especially cold winter we had around here might have
had something to do with it, but honestly, we’re not sure. All we know is that
when we went to turn on the fountain in the spring, “old faithful” was faithful
no more.

Dan had to order new parts, and they took a while to arrive,
and then as busy as he’s been this summer with his building projects, it took a
little while to get to the repairs. Finally, last week, he hauled our aluminum
boat down to the edge of the pond and, with one of his trusty workers, paddled
out to do the repairs.

And voila! The fountain works again. Old faithful is
faithful once more, shooting a friendly spray skyward.

The fountain is one of the friendly little touches we have
around here—and certainly one of people’s favorites. Brides love to have the
fountain in the background for photos, and many of our guests love to sit on
their porches in the evening and watch the fountain and listen to the relaxing
sound of spray sprinkling on the water.

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Our last shot from the interior of the Tobacco Barn offers a quick peak into the bathroom.

My favorite feature is the sink: its an old rain barrel that's been repurposed for holding water in a different way! The fixtures are mounted to the top edge, and the sink basin sits down in a hole cut out of the barrel's top. You can't see it in this picture, but the toilet paper holder is set into the side of the water barrel, offer a quaint space-saving innovation.

Chris, who snapped the picture, likes the pressed-tin roof--another treasure Dan salvaged from a recent job. "You just don't see neat craftsmanship much like that anymore," Chris said when he saw it.

Don't forget, we're offering an advance opportunity for blog followers to get first dibs on booking the Tobacco Barn. Email us at info@stevensonridge.com or give us a call at (540) 582-6263.

Friday, July 25, 2014

Nothing beats a great night's sleep, and the Tobacco Barn has just the spot. The hewn-wood bedposts support an elaborate metalworked headboard made of hand-forged wrought iron. The brass ornamental tips have an aged green patina that tie in perfectly with the Tobacco Barn's rustic feel.

Don't forget, we're offering an advance opportunity for blog followers to get first dibs on booking the Tobacco Barn. Email us at info@stevensonridge.com or give us a call at (540) 582-6263.

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Today's view from the Tobacco Barn comes from Chris, who stepped inside the front door to grab this shot.

My favorite elements include the green cabinets Dan mounted over the sink. Dan salvaged them from an old home he was doing some restoration work on as part of his "day job" running Spear Builders. Chris loves the enamel-topped table against the far wall. It reminds him of a table his grandmother once had, passed down from an earlier generation of the family.

The fireplace sits beyond the coffee table, just out of the right edge of the picture.

We do have a TV/DVD player and a radio/CD player in the Tobacco Barn, too, for guests who want a little light entertainment while they're chilling by the fire. Chris took this picture from just inside the doorway; the photo at the top of this page was straight ahead, and the photo of the TV was taken after he turned to his right.

Don't forget, we're offering an advance opportunity for blog followers to get first dibs on booking the Tobacco Barn. Email us at info@stevensonridge.com or give us a call at (540) 582-6263.

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Right now, as an exclusive treat to our blog readers, you can give us a call and book your stay: (540) 582-6263. Or email us at info@stevensonridge.com.

We'll soon have the Tobacco Barn listed on our website and through all our various online booking channels, but we wanted to give our loyal blog followers first dibs as our way of saying "Thank you!"

As a way to whet your whistle, we'll offer some pics from the Tobacco Barn over the next few days.

Today's pics come to us courtesy of Elizabeth, who took this panoramic shot (above) from just inside the doorway. She also grabbed a neat shot of the Tobacco Barn's high ceiling; once upon a time, the long crossbeams and open space made the ideal environment for hanging bundles of tobacco leaves for drying.

Saturday, July 19, 2014

We had an event at the Riddick House today that required the special talents of our decorator/designer, Scott Kidd. He whipped together these gorgeous centerpieces, using materials he gathered by raiding our storage room, Debbie's garden, and the nearby forest. We're so lucky to have such a gifted decorator as part of our little Stevenson Ridge "family."

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

We are in the final stages of completing the Tobacco Barn, the newest addition to our lodging cabins. We received our Occupancy Permit from the County this week, so we are busy decorating and preparing it for our first guests! We will keep you posted on it's progress.

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

It’s tempting to say we’ve seen it all when it comes to weddings, but dictionary.com threw a few new things at us this week. The site has offered “10 Unusual Wedding Words.”My favorite is “paranymph” (but that’s probably because there’s a cute picture of a dog with a floral wreath on its head). “Paranymph” is a unisex term that can refer to a groomsman or a bridesmaid. Most of us think of “nymph” as being female, though, so I don’t know too many guys who’d appreciate being referred to as “paranymphs.”

One item on the list I was pretty familiar with (because I’ve seen a fair share) is “shotgun wedding.” What I liked about the dictionary.com entry, though, was that it offered the origin of the term, which comes from a Sinclair Lewis novel, Elmer Gantry. "There, there, Lu!" one of the characters tells his daughter when he finds out she's pregnant. "Your dad'll do something about it." Shotgun, indeed! Have some fun and check out the full list!

About Me

Graduating from James Madison University, I moved back to Fredericksburg to launch Stevenson Ridge. With a passion for hospitality, I bring an enthusiasm to my job everyday as I meet new people and find new ways to exceed their expectations. Working with brides is one of my favorite things about my job... it is so rewarding to be part of such an important day in their lives.